[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 421 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 421
Censuring Representative Jody Hice of Georgia.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2021
Mr. Cicilline (for himself, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Cooper, Ms. Chu, Mrs. Demings, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jackson
Lee, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Kildee, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. McEachin,
Mr. Payne, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Jones, Ms. Kelly of Illinois,
Mrs. Torres of California, Ms. Jayapal, and Mr. Espaillat) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ethics
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Censuring Representative Jody Hice of Georgia.
Whereas in January 2021, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives released its report, ``Materials in Support of H. Res.
24, Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for
High Crimes and Misdemeanors'', which stated:
``To enter the Capitol, the insurrectionists desecrated the Capitol
including by, among other acts, ransacking and looting Member offices,
stealing and destroying electronics, government property, and sensitive
materials, and engaging in violence, which eventually resulted in at
least five deaths. To enter the Capitol, the insurrectionists
overwhelmed Capitol Police, scaled walls, used makeshift ladders,
shattered windows, and overran barricades. Although Capitol Police
locked the gallery and floor doors and Members and staff barricaded
themselves in offices, the mob stormed Member offices, vandalizing and
smashing property, overturning furniture, and, in some cases, stealing
electronics.
``Insurrectionists also severely damaged the building itself. They
left bullet marks in the building walls, looted art, destroyed
monuments, including a commemorative display honoring late congressman
John Lewis, smeared their feces in several hallways, and fatally injured
a Capitol Police officer. Several brandished the Confederate battle flag
and extremist paraphernalia.
``By approximately 2:45 PM, insurrectionists had breached the House
and Senate floors and began posing for photographs, including on the
dais where Vice President Mike Pence had been presiding just moments
before. Other images showed rioters smoking marijuana in Capitol rooms.
The insurrectionists had, among their gear and weaponry, bullet-proof
vests, zip ties used for handcuffs, metal knuckles, sticks and poles,
knives, and firearms; in total, at least six handguns were recovered
from subsequent arrests. Videos confirmed that these insurrectionists
were openly threatening specific Members of Congress. For example, some
of the attackers said, `Tell Pelosi we're coming for that
[expletive]'.'';
Whereas the Committee's report also stated, ``During the attack, Vice President
Pence, Members of Congress, and staff were sheltering in secure
locations. Spurred by the false claims of fraud, some of the attackers
said, `Tell Pelosi we're coming for that [expletive]', and `Hang Mike
Pence'. Some attackers carried zip ties intended to be used as
handcuffs. A noose was hung outside the Capitol. Multiple members of the
Capitol Police were severely injured or killed.'';
Whereas the Committee's report also stated, ``Later video would emerge of
insurrectionists inside the Capitol chanting `Hang Mike Pence!''';
Whereas on May 12, 2021, during a hearing entitled ``The Capitol Insurrection:
Unexplained Delays and Unanswered Questions'' held by the Committee on
Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives, Representative
Jody Hice of Georgia made statements minimizing the responsibility of
the insurrectionists who attacked the United States Capitol on January
6, 2021, for the death of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian
Sicknick and painting the rioters as the actual victims of the
insurrection;
Whereas among these statements, Representative Hice said, ``Another narrative I
want to bring up is that the-the-the media claims that the tragic death
of Officer Brian Sicknick was a result of pro-Trump mobs bashing his
skull with a fire extinguisher, which we all know now did not happen.
Officer Sicknick, his autopsy revealed that he suffered no blunt trauma.
In fact, his mother has since come out saying he died of a stroke. In
fact, it was Trump supporters who lost their lives that day, not Trump
supporters who were taking the lives of others.''; and
Whereas undermining the seriousness of the insurrection that occurred on January
6 against the United States Capitol and Members of Congress, and
dangerously mischaracterizing the events of that day, disrespects the
sacrifices made by law enforcement officers on that day and creates
danger by emboldening and legitimizing future actors who would attack
the United States Capitol in a similar manner: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) Representative Jody Hice of Georgia be hereby censured;
(2) Representative Jody Hice of Georgia forthwith present
himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the
pronouncement of censure; and
(3) Representative Jody Hice of Georgia be censured with
the public reading of this resolution by the Speaker.
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